Medline ®
Abstract for Reference
56

of 'Palliative care: Nursing home'

Improving the use of hospice services in nursing homes: a randomized controlled trial.

AU

Casarett D, Karlawish J, Morales K, Crowley R, Mirsch T, Asch DA

SO

JAMA. 2005;294(2):211.

CONTEXT:
Hospice care may improve the quality of end-of-life care for nursing home residents, but hospice is underutilized by this population, at least in part because physicians are not aware of their patients' preferences.

OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether it is possible to increase hospice utilization and improve the quality of end-of-life care by identifying residents whose goals and preferences are consistent with hospice care.

INTERVENTION:
A structured interview identified residents whose goals for care, treatment preferences, and palliative care needs made them appropriate for hospice care. These residents' physicians were notified and asked to authorize a hospice informational visit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
The primary outcome measures were (1) hospice enrollment within 30 days of the intervention and (2) families' ratings of the quality of care for residents who died during the 6-month follow-up period.